Tent



J. H. WITTMANN TENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1920 [NVEZYTOR B Joseply h. 14 7/70/91? May 19.24,

J. H.- WITTMANN TENT Filed Feb. 9 1920 5 Sheets-sheet 2 A TR' NEYT TENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 1920 ZNVENTOR Patented May 13, 1924.

JOSEBEI H. WITTMANN, or KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

I TENT;

Application filed iebruary 9, 1920. Serial No. 357,479.

I '0 aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, J OSEPH H. l/VITTMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain.

new and useful Improvements in Tents; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and 'use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to tents and particularly to a unit of such form and construction that it may be utilized in connection with other like units in setting up tents of various sizes.

According to my invention, a single unit may serve as a complete tent or a number of units may be utilized in setting up a tent of larger capacity, the integrity of the units being preserved under the numerous varying conditions to which they are subjected.

I prefer to construct the unit with an end flap, suspended from the top in such a man- I ner that, normally, the flap will serve as ,a closer or door for the tent. When, however, it is determined to use a number of units to make a tent of greater capacity, the flap will be turned up as a roof sheet and cooperate with the normal roof unit andwith a corresponding roof sheet of another unit in providing a tent of relatively large capacity. I

In other words, according to my invention, a unit may be provided which will admirably serve the purpose of a complete tent but which will constitute a base from which a larger tent may be built, the unit serving as a part of the enlarged tent'without losing its integrity, it being possible to detach any one or more of the units and restore them to their original status,should the occasion demand. g

Such a construction and arrangement is particularly adapted for use by camping parties, as the size of thefinished structure may be expanded or contracted to suitthe requirements of the party and by providing a complete set of units, any size tent structure within two extremes may be easily set up to suit the particular requirements.

In the drawings,

Fig. I is a perspective viewof a complete tent, employing a number of units, parts being broken away to show the interior thereof.

Fig. II is a perspective view of a complete tent, showing two units and the augmenting walls ready to be set up.

Fig. III is a perspective view of a complete unit with the flap sheet raised.

Fig. IV is a detail view of a complete unit with the flap folded down as a' door or closer.

Fig. V is an enlarged view'of the meeting edges of opposing units.

Fig. VI is an enlarged view of a fastening means, and i Fig. VII is a slightly modified form of fastening means.

The construction ofthe unit is best shown in Figs. III and IV as consisting-of asubstant-ially rectangular tent having sides 1 and 2, an end 3 and a top 1 slightly inclined from the open end 5, which is adapted-to be closed by a flap or canopy 6, preferably constructed so as to constitute a continuation of the inclined top 1. The front edges of the sides 1 and 2 are provided with fastening eyes or grummets 7, which are adapted to co-operate with'the overlapping, double edged p'ortions'8 ofthe flap 6 so that the flap may be secured to the fastening devices 7 as shown in Fig..'IV, to close the front end 5 of the tent, if desired.

Should it be desired to utilize the flap 6 as a canopy or shade, it maybe extended, as shown in Fig. III, andsupportedup0n poles 9 and 10, the tent proper being supportedby the poles 11 and 12 by suitable guy ropes 13, the rear end of the tentbeing fastened at each corner by guy ropes 14., as-will'be well understood, and if desired, the side walls 1 and 2 may beprovided with windows of approved construction with closures, as indicated at 15 and 16. The guy ropes 17 and 18 engage the tent po'les 9 and 10 in the usual manner, and saidpoles may be removed from engagement with the flap sired to close the flap, as shown in Fig. IV,

the cotter pins to which the guy ropes are secured, maybe removed from the longt tent unit proper.

tudinal recesses in the tent poles and the flap may then be used as a closer for the When it is desired to open up the tent and use the flap 6 as a canopy or shade, it will be only necessary to stretch the flap 6 over to the poles 9 and 10 and insert the cotter pins or corresponding fastening devices and the structure will assume the position shown in Fig. III.

Obviously the construction shown in Fig. III is confined in a relatively small space. If it is desired to increase the capacity of I the tent, two units corresponding to the measured by the units shown in Figs. III and IV will be set up opposite to one another, as shown in Fig. III, with the edges 19 and 19 overlapping one another and, as shown in Fig. V, with the guy rope fastening devices or cotter pins 20 passing through aligning grurnmets 21 in the edges 19 and 19 and into the pole, as shown in Fig. V.

The edges 19 and 19 are provided with additional grummets 22 and 23 which are taped, as indicated at 24 and 25, the tapes being on the lower faces of the flaps and arranged so that. the lower flap may be tightened to. the upper flap by passing the tape 25 through its grummet 23 and tying the tapes 24 and 25 together, as shown in Fig. V. The tying of the tapes effects a complete unit between the two corresponding edges of adjacent aligning units so that the joined edges 19 and 19 constitute the ridge for the enlarged tent-between the poles 9 and 10. The overlapping edges 8 of the flaps 6 consist of a double web of canvas to provide an inside memberor flange 26 and an outside member or flange 27. The inside member or flange is preferably formed with a row of headed fastening devices or buttons 28, adapted to pass through the openings 7 in the side walls 1 and 2 and engage the sockets 29, as clearly shown in Fig. VI, so that a tight closure may be effected, the front vertical edges of the walls 1 and 2 being received between the flange members 26 and 27 for this purpose.

hen the tent isenlarged by utilizing a number of sections, for example, two, as shown in Fig. III, there is a space between the front edges of the side walls of the units distance spanned by the flaps or canopies 6. I. have, therefore, provided augmenting side walls 30 and 31 to close the spaces and these side walls,'which are made of canvas or other suitable fabric, may be pentagonal in form wit-h a straight bottom side 32, two vertical sides 33 and 34 and the inclined top edges 35 and 36. The top edges 35 and 36 are provided with rows of eyes or grummets through which the heads 28 may pass to engage the eyes 29, as seen in Fig. II, and the vertical edges of the walls 30 and 31 are provided with double thick fastening flanges or edges 37 sheet and 38 adapted to receive the edges of the side sections so that the headed fasteners 28 may pass through eyes or grummets 7 in the vertical walls. of the tent section units and into the socket members 29 to fasten the respective edges together. The end walls may be provided with openings 39 and 40 adapted to be closed by curtains 41 and 42, if desired.

As the tent is set up in Figs. I and II it may consist of a central room and two end rooms, which may preferably be bedrooms, and I prefer to extend the fastening flaps 37 and 38 only partially the length of the edges 33 and 34; that is, to terminate them slightly above the bottom edge 32 so thatif a bed is fastened to the tent poles,

the lower edges of the tent sides 1 and 2 j, ma be folded up over the beds 43 and 44,

as best shown at 45 in Fig. I, and I may provide a floor sheet 46 for the central room, which may be lapped over the ends of the beds, as at 47 so that a relatively construction will be provided. If a blanket or mattress is then placed upon the bed or cot, the lappedover portions 45 and 47 will be held in place and, if desired, the bottom end 3 may also be turned up and lapped over the foot of the cot or bed, as will be readily understood. The construction shown in Fig. I is that which will be employed for retiring but when the beds or cots are not in use, the ends may be let down, as shown in Fig. II and the lapped-over edges 47 of the floor 46 may extend into the smaller units or wings of the enlarged tent to serve as a floor covering.

In Fig. VII I have shown a slightly modified form of fastening device; that is, in stead of utilizing the headed pins or fasteners and the eyes 29, I may substitute tight lower edges of the sides and buttons 49 on the members 26 and button through the button holes 50 and secure the component parts together. I

If it is desired to make the tent smaller, one or more side units may be removed to make the tent the desired size.

From the foregoing it wi that the tent unit may admirably serve as an ordinary tent, unless it is desired to increase the capacity, whereupon another unit may be arranged oppositely and in spaced relation thereto, with the flaps 6 constituting a continuation of the roof of the respective units and having their free edges connected together to form the ridge of the enlarged tent, it being only necessary to set up the side walls to complete the structure and, if desired, introduce the cots or beds, as above described.

ll be apparent It will also be apparent that a comparatively large tenting capacity may be conveniently stored in a motor vehicle Without the necessity of employing a relatively large storing capacity in the motor vehicle.

Attention is also called to the fact that by providing the double edges or flanges 26 and 27 on the flaps 6 so that the edges 35 and 36 of the side walls 30 and 31 may be received between them and the double edges 37 and 38 on the side members 30 and 81, a rainproof, dustproof, insectproof construction is provided, which materially enhances the tent structure over those devices Where the joints are made by simplylapping one canvas edge over another.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. I11 a builtup tent structure, a plural ity of complementary tent members, each of which is provided with a roof sheet having an extension thereon to project beyond the end of the tent, means on one of the extensions for engaging the end of a complementary extension, and augmenting side wall members having means attachable to the extensions of the roof sheets of the tent members.

2. In a built-up tent structure, a plurality of complementary tent members, each of which is provided with a roof sheet having an extension thereon to project beyond the end of the tent, means on one of the extensions for engaging the end of a complementary extension, augmenting side Wall members having means attachable to the extensions of the roof sheets of the tent members, and tent member side Wall engaging means carried by the augmenting members.

3. In a built-up tent structure, a plurality of complementary tent members having extended roof sheets adapted to normally provide door flaps, tent poles for supporting the extensions in the planes of the roof sheets whereby the body portions of the tent members Will be spaced apart and the roof sheets connected together to provide a space between the main body portions of the tent members, and auxiliary side Wall members attachable to the roof sheets and to the side walls of the tent members.

4:. In a built-up tent structure, a plurality ofcomplementary tent members having inclined roof sheets provided with extensions in the planes of the roofsheets, the ends of the extensions being secured together, leaving an open space between the main portions of the tentmembers, and side wall members connected to the extensions andto the side walls of the tent members.

-5. A built-up tent structure comprising complementary tent members, each comprising a complete tent, each member having a vertical wall adapted to be swung up in the plane of the roof of the tent to provide a roof sheet extension, duplicate co-operating fastening means carried by the ends of the respective extensions so that any one extension may be fastened to any other extension,

and means for supporting the extensions in the plane of the roof.

6. A built-up tent structure comprising complementary tent members having roof sheet extensions, co-operating fastening means carried by the ends of the extensions, each fastening means being a duplicate of its complementary fastening means whereby any two extensions may be fastened together, and means for supporting the end extensions in the plane of the roof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH H. WI'ITMANN. 

